Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro ManilaEleventh Congress
Republic Act No. 8750 August 5, 1999
AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANDATORY COMPLIANCE BY MOTORISTS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC VEHICLES TO USE SEAT BELT DEVICES, AND REQUIRING VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO INSTALL SEAT BELT DEVICES IN ALL THEIR MANUFACTURED VEHICLES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Seat Belts Use Act of 1999."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the passengers and drivers of private and public motor vehicles, from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of vehicular accidents. Towards this end, the State shall pursue a more proactive and preventive approach in order to secure the safety of the passengers and drivers at all times with the mandatory enforcement of the use of seat belt devices by the drivers and front seat passengers of...
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Republic Acts
SEAT BELTS USE ACT OF 1999
Republic Act No. 8750
Summary of Republic Act No. 8750 (Seat Belts Use Act of 1999)
Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Secure and safeguard citizens, particularly passengers and drivers, from vehicular accidents
- Pursue a proactive and preventive approach to ensure safety through mandatory use of seat belt devices
Definitions (Section 3):
- Motorist: driver of a motor vehicle
- Seat belt device: strap or webbing designed to secure a person in a vehicle
- Motor vehicle: private and public motor vehicles, excluding tricycles and motorcycles
- Private motor vehicle: owned by individuals, government, or diplomatic vehicles
- Public motor vehicle: public utility vehicles or vehicles for hire
- Motor vehicle of running engine: operating vehicle with engine running
- Front seat passengers: specific passengers seated in front seats
Mandatory Use of Seat Belts (Section 4):
- Drivers and front seat passengers of public or private motor vehicles must wear seat belts while inside a running vehicle
- For private vehicles (except jeeps, jeepneys, vans, buses), front and back seat passengers must wear seat belts
- In public vehicles, drivers must inform and require front seat passengers to wear seat belts
- Vehicles without seat belts have one (1) year to retrofit appropriate devices
Children Prohibited in Front Seat (Section 5):
- Infants and children aged six (6) years and below are prohibited from sitting in the front seat of any running motor vehicle
Coverage (Section 6):
- Applies to drivers and front seat passengers of public and private motor vehicles, and other vehicles determined by the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)
Provisions for Seat Belt Installation (Section 7):
- Manufacturers, assemblers, and distributors must ensure seat belt devices are properly installed before distribution and sale
- For jeepneys, a pelvic restraint or lap belt for driver and front seat passengers is considered substantial compliance
Importation (Section 8):
- Unlawful to import vehicles without appropriate and operational seat belt devices
Seat Belt Standards (Section 9):
- Seat belt devices must comply with standards and specifications established by the Bureau of Product Standards (DTI) and LTO (DOTC)
- Imported second-hand vehicles must conform to Bureau of Product Standards specifications
Registration (Section 10):
- No new vehicle registration or renewal without necessary seat belt devices
- Renewal of in-use vehicles without seat belts not allowed one (1) year after IRR issuance
Implementation Period (Section 11):
- LTO is primarily responsible for enforcement and implementation
- LTO must issue IRR within sixty (60) days of effectivity
- LTO may require use of special car seats for infants if necessary
Penalties and Fines (Section 12):
- Fines for drivers:
- First violation: minimum P100, maximum P1,000
- Second violation: minimum P200, maximum P2,000
- Third and succeeding violations: minimum P500, maximum P5,000, and suspension of driver's license for one (1) week
- Public utility vehicles must post signages; non-compliance fines drivers and operators minimum P300, maximum P3,000 per violation
- Fines for manufacturers, assemblers, importers, and distributors:
- First violation: minimum P5,000, maximum P10,000, and suspension of license for one (1) year
- Second violation: minimum P10,000, maximum P20,000, and suspension of license for two (2) years
- Third violation: minimum P20,000, maximum P50,000, and suspension of license for five (5) years
Public Information Campaign (Section 13):
- LTO, in coordination with PIA, DECS, and private agencies, shall undertake a nationwide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign
- LTO shall utilize services of citizen groups and community organizations for public safety awareness
- Collected fines shall be used exclusively for implementation and promotion campaigns
Separability Clause (Section 14)
Repealing Clause (Section 15)
Effectivity Clause (Section 16)
Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Secure and safeguard citizens, particularly passengers and drivers, from vehicular accidents
- Pursue a proactive and preventive approach to ensure safety through mandatory use of seat belt devices
Definitions (Section 3):
- Motorist: driver of a motor vehicle
- Seat belt device: strap or webbing designed to secure a person in a vehicle
- Motor vehicle: private and public motor vehicles, excluding tricycles and motorcycles
- Private motor vehicle: owned by individuals, government, or diplomatic vehicles
- Public motor vehicle: public utility vehicles or vehicles for hire
- Motor vehicle of running engine: operating vehicle with engine running
- Front seat passengers: specific passengers seated in front seats
Mandatory Use of Seat Belts (Section 4):
- Drivers and front seat passengers of public or private motor vehicles must wear seat belts while inside a running vehicle
- For private vehicles (except jeeps, jeepneys, vans, buses), front and back seat passengers must wear seat belts
- In public vehicles, drivers must inform and require front seat passengers to wear seat belts
- Vehicles without seat belts have one (1) year to retrofit appropriate devices
Children Prohibited in Front Seat (Section 5):
- Infants and children aged six (6) years and below are prohibited from sitting in the front seat of any running motor vehicle
Coverage (Section 6):
- Applies to drivers and front seat passengers of public and private motor vehicles, and other vehicles determined by the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)
Provisions for Seat Belt Installation (Section 7):
- Manufacturers, assemblers, and distributors must ensure seat belt devices are properly installed before distribution and sale
- For jeepneys, a pelvic restraint or lap belt for driver and front seat passengers is considered substantial compliance
Importation (Section 8):
- Unlawful to import vehicles without appropriate and operational seat belt devices
Seat Belt Standards (Section 9):
- Seat belt devices must comply with standards and specifications established by the Bureau of Product Standards (DTI) and LTO (DOTC)
- Imported second-hand vehicles must conform to Bureau of Product Standards specifications
Registration (Section 10):
- No new vehicle registration or renewal without necessary seat belt devices
- Renewal of in-use vehicles without seat belts not allowed one (1) year after IRR issuance
Implementation Period (Section 11):
- LTO is primarily responsible for enforcement and implementation
- LTO must issue IRR within sixty (60) days of effectivity
- LTO may require use of special car seats for infants if necessary
Penalties and Fines (Section 12):
- Fines for drivers:
- First violation: minimum P100, maximum P1,000
- Second violation: minimum P200, maximum P2,000
- Third and succeeding violations: minimum P500, maximum P5,000, and suspension of driver's license for one (1) week
- Public utility vehicles must post signages; non-compliance fines drivers and operators minimum P300, maximum P3,000 per violation
- Fines for manufacturers, assemblers, importers, and distributors:
- First violation: minimum P5,000, maximum P10,000, and suspension of license for one (1) year
- Second violation: minimum P10,000, maximum P20,000, and suspension of license for two (2) years
- Third violation: minimum P20,000, maximum P50,000, and suspension of license for five (5) years
Public Information Campaign (Section 13):
- LTO, in coordination with PIA, DECS, and private agencies, shall undertake a nationwide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign
- LTO shall utilize services of citizen groups and community organizations for public safety awareness
- Collected fines shall be used exclusively for implementation and promotion campaigns
Separability Clause (Section 14)
Repealing Clause (Section 15)
Effectivity Clause (Section 16)